Subchapter IV. Powers of Tax Lagoon
TITLE 7
Conservation
Agricultural and Soil Conservation; Drainage and Reclamation of Lowlands
CHAPTER 43. DREDGING AND MANAGEMENT OF LAGOONS
Subchapter IV. Powers of Tax Lagoon
§ 4341. Meeting to organize tax lagoon; notice.
(a) The Division of Watershed Stewardship, at its earliest convenience after the lagoon order becomes final, shall call a meeting of the taxables for the purpose of organizing the proposed tax lagoon, including the election of lagoon managers, as called for in the lagoon order, and a secretary-treasurer; the formulation of a plan for dredging the proposed tax lagoon; and levying taxes to cover the costs of construction and maintenance.
(b) The Division of Watershed Stewardship shall send a notice to every taxable by first class mail to that landowner's address as currently recorded by the board of assessment of the county at least 10 days prior to that meeting stating the time, place and object of the meeting.
(c) A notice of the meeting shall be sent to the chairperson of the board of supervisors of the county soil conservation district.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 430, § 44.;
§ 4342. Distribution of lagoon order and this chapter; filing of assessment list.
(a) At the organization meeting of the tax lagoon, the Division of Watershed Stewardship shall deliver to the managers, when elected, a certified copy of the lagoon order and a copy of this chapter, together with all effective amendments thereto.
(b) The Division of Watershed Stewardship shall deliver a copy of the assessment list prepared under § 4321 of this title, as modified by the lagoon order, to the board of assessment of the county, making such changes in the names of the owners thereon as are warranted by transfers to new owners of lands assessed.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 430, § 45.;
§ 4343. Voting rights.
At all meetings, each landowner shall be entitled to the same number of votes as the number of dollars assessed against the land of such owner in the lagoon order. In the event that any lands are held by tenants in common or joint tenants, each such tenant in common or joint tenant shall be entitled to the same number of votes as the tenant's fractional share of the total number of dollars assessed against said lands. In the case of lands held by a husband and wife as tenants by the entirety, either the husband or wife may vote all the dollars assessed against their lands.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4344. Voting by proxy.
Any person entitled to vote pursuant to § 4343 of this title may authorize another landowner within the tax lagoon to cast the authorizing landowner's votes in that landowner's stead by executing a proxy. The proxy shall be signed, dated and notarized.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4345. Election of lagoon managers and a secretary-treasurer; terms of office; vacancies.
(a) At the first meeting the taxables shall elect from their group the number of lagoon managers specified in the lagoon order, and a secretary-treasurer.
(b) The term of office of each lagoon manager and of the secretary-treasurer shall be 1 year. If the lagoon managers and secretary-treasurer first elected are elected prior to July 1 of any year, the time elapsing between said election and the first annual January meeting provided for in § 4348 of this title shall be deemed to constitute the first year of their terms of office. However, if the lagoon managers and secretary-treasurer first elected are elected on or after July 1 of any year, their terms of office shall not be deemed to begin until the said first annual January meeting, although they shall assume the duties and responsibilities of their respective offices immediately upon election.
(c) In the event that any tax lagoon officer dies, resigns, ceases to be 1 of the taxables, or is removed from office, the remaining lagoon officers shall, within 60 days, appoint a taxable to serve the remainder of the term of such officer. However, except in the case of death or removal from office, each tax lagoon officer shall continue to serve until a successor has been appointed.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;
§ 4346. Chairperson of lagoon managers; duties.
Immediately after they are elected, the lagoon managers shall designate 1 of their number to serve as chairperson. The chairperson shall call meetings of the lagoon managers and taxables and shall preside thereat.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4347. Compensation of lagoon managers and secretary-treasurer.
Tax lagoon managers and the secretary-treasurer may be entitled to receive compensation at a rate to be determined by a majority of the eligible votes of those taxables present at the first meeting provided for in § 4348 of this title. The rate of compensation for the tax lagoon managers and secretary-treasurer may be revised only at a regular annual meeting of the taxables.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;
§ 4348. Annual and other meetings of taxables; notice of meetings.
At the first meeting the taxables shall set a date for the regular annual meeting. This date may not be changed except by action of a majority of the taxables present at a regular annual meeting. The chairperson of the lagoon managers may call special meetings at such times as the circumstances warrant. At least 10 days' notice of all meetings shall be given by the lagoon managers using either of the following methods:
(1) By publishing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area of a tax lagoon, and by posting at 5 conspicuous places in or near the area of said tax lagoon, a notice stating the time, place and object of the meeting; or
(2) By mailing to each affected taxable at the address currently shown on the records of the board of assessment of the county a notice stating the time, place and object of the meeting.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;
§ 4349. Meetings of lagoon managers; quorum.
The lagoon managers shall meet as often as necessary to properly conduct the business of the tax lagoon. At such meetings a majority of the lagoon managers shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority in any matter within their duties shall be required for its determination.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;
§ 4350. Powers of a tax lagoon.
A tax lagoon organized under this chapter, being a governmental subdivision of this State and a public body, corporate and politic, may exercise public powers, and in addition to such other powers as usually pertain to corporations, may:
(1) Levy taxes;
(2) Sue and be sued in the name of the tax lagoon; and suits against the tax lagoon shall be governed by subchapter I of Chapter 40 of Title 10;
(3) Make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers;
(4) Borrow money for the purpose of dredging management and administering the tax lagoon;
(5) Acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant, bequest, devise or otherwise, any property, real or personal, or any rights or interests therein;
(6) Cooperate or enter into agreements with the state or federal governments or any agency or subdivision thereof;
(7) Exercise the power of eminent domain in accordance with the condemnation procedure prescribed in Chapter 61 of Title 10 with respect to lands outside the boundaries of the tax lagoon which are needed for right-of-way or outlet purposes;
(8) Accept contributions from landowners assessed in the tax lagoon and disburse such funds for the purposes of performing certain operations, such as, but not limited to, dredging, which operations are authorized in the tax lagoon order but which are not included in the original estimated costs; and
(9) Call upon the Division of Watershed Stewardship for assistance with administrative and operations problems of the tax lagoon.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 430, § 46.;
§ 4351. Duties of lagoon managers.
In addition to the duties specified in other sections of this chapter, the lagoon managers shall:
(1) Determine from the taxables the desired program of operations;
(2) Determine the amount of taxes to be levied to carry out such desired program;
(3) Secure specific authority for borrowing money in the name of the tax lagoon by a majority vote of the taxables present at a duly called meeting of the tax lagoon;
(4) At the first meeting, or within 30 days thereafter, prepare, with the assistance of the Division of Watershed Stewardship, a comprehensive plan for carrying out the desired program, which plan shall include provisions for levying taxes and for financing the program;
(5) Execute warrants, with the assistance of the Division of Watershed Stewardship, to the receiver of taxes and county treasurer authorizing and requesting the collection of all tax lagoon taxes other than maintenance taxes;
(6) Execute a warrant, with the assistance of the Division of Watershed Stewardship, to the receiver of taxes and county treasurer authorizing and requesting the annual collection of a tax in the amount of 2 percent of the total assessment base or in the amount of 2 percent of the total benefits for tax lagoons previously formed under the original provisions of this chapter, said warrant to be marked plainly as being for annual maintenance taxes and to be issued simultaneously with the issuance of the first warrant for the collection of taxes for construction purposes;
(7) Make a report, at the annual meeting, of their activities during the year preceding such annual meeting;
(8) Provide for work on the tax lagoon; and
(9) Provide for adequate maintenance of the tax lagoon.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 430, § 47.;
§ 4352. Duties of secretary-treasurer of tax lagoon.
In addition to any powers and duties set forth elsewhere in this chapter, the secretary-treasurer of the tax lagoon shall:
(1) Keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the lagoon managers and taxables; and such minutes shall be a part of the permanent records of the tax lagoon;
(2) Prepare a complete financial statement at the end of each calendar year, including therein an itemized report of all funds received, all funds expended, all funds due from taxes not yet collected, and all sums due and owing by the tax lagoon; and this statement and the records of the secretary-treasurer shall be audited annually by 2 qualified persons and shall become part of the permanent records of the tax lagoon;
(3) Provide for the safekeeping of any funds of the tax lagoon which are placed in the secretary-treasurer's custody; and
(4) Attend all meetings of the lagoon managers and taxables.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4353. Bond of secretary-treasurer.
The secretary-treasurer shall, before assuming the duties of office and within 15 days after election, furnish a bond in favor of the tax lagoon, in an amount satisfactory to the lagoon managers and with a surety to be approved by the lagoon managers, conditioned on the faithful performance of duties and for the payment to the secretary-treasurer's successor of all tax lagoon funds. If any person elected secretary-treasurer neglects or refuses to give bond as aforesaid within the time specified, such person's right to hold such office shall be terminated, and the lagoon managers shall call a special meeting of the taxables to elect a new secretary-treasurer who shall give bond and security as provided in this section.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4354. Failure of lagoon officer to perform duties; remedy; removal.
If any officer of a tax lagoon fails to perform the duties imposed on such officer by this chapter, any taxable may petition the Superior Court from which the lagoon order was issued and request an order directing said officer to carry out the duties of such office, and upon failure to comply with the order within the time stated therein, the taxable may further petition the Superior Court for the removal of the officer.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4355. Signatures on instruments issued by tax lagoon.
Any note, bond, warrant or other instrument issued by a tax lagoon pursuant to this chapter shall be signed by the chairperson of the lagoon managers, and the chairperson's signature shall be attested by the secretary-treasurer of the tax lagoon.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.;
§ 4356. Liability of tax lagoon officers.
No lagoon manager or other officer of a tax lagoon shall be held personally liable for the obligations of the tax lagoon. The tax lagoon shall indemnify the lagoon managers or other officers in accordance with § 4003 of Title 10 for all tort claims.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;
§ 4357. Limitation on borrowing power of tax lagoon.
A tax lagoon may borrow money pursuant to this chapter with the consent of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting duly called under § 4348 of this title. No tax lagoon shall borrow money in excess of 90 percent of the total assessment base established by the lagoon order.
73 Del. Laws, c. 389, § 1.;